WHS Drama Takes "Reeling" To State Drama Festival
Connor Strange
Co-Editor-in-Chief
On the weekend of January 9-10, the drama department performed their one-act play “Reeling” at UNL for a crowd of fellow actors from across the state.
“It was incredible. At the beginning I didn’t think [Reeling] was going to get that far because it’s a silent show,” junior Makayla Siefker said. “Going as far as we did, I was really proud.”
Acting out the silent play in front of a theatre full of theatre kids proved to be nerve-wracking challenge to some of the actors.
“There is much more pressure when performing at state,” senior Tucker Flodman said. “The entire audience has earned the right to be there by putting work into the art, so you know that they understand what a great performance is.”
On the other side of the dramatic coin, acting to a crowd of experienced thespians was a unique, exciting opportunity for the cast.
“It was way more fun performing there because the audience was full of the best high school actors in the state,” junior Zach Tabor said. “They all really appreciated it compared to a regular audience.”
“Reeling” didn’t come in the lead at district one-act competitions, but it still made waves enough to be chosen for the state festival.
“We got fourth at districts, but we were probably still the most talked-about show throughout the year,” Tabor said. “So it was pretty cool that we still got the opportunity to perform in front of a crowd like that.”
Other shows of equal acclaim followed “Reeling” at the festival. “Pippin” featured a sheltered king’s son finding his place in the world, “Show and Tell” delved into school shootings and “
“[The other shows] were fantastic,” Flodman said. “The amount of preparation put into each production made it clear that the performers loved theatre.”
The drama department’s next show will see much of the cast and crew of “Reeling” return in March along with a host of fresh faces in their new spring play “Almost Maine.”
